Chief's Burgers, Brew & Spirits — Restaurant in Solana Beach

Chief’s Burgers & Brew in Solana Beach isn’t just a place to eat—it’s a controlled detonation disguised as a restaurant. You walk in for lunch and walk out reborn, or at least mildly shaken. The iced tea alone could resurrect the dead—cold, mean, and brewed with the kind of conviction usually reserved for interrogation rooms. None of that syrupy nonsense. This stuff bites back, then soothes your soul just enough to keep you ordering refills.

Then there’s the hot chicken sandwich—good God. A glorious collision of spice and sanity. Just enough heat to make you sweat, but not so much that it drowns out the flavor. Every bite’s a fistfight between pleasure and pain, and halfway through, I realized I was losing. Two bites in, I dropped the act, grabbed a knife and fork, and tried to tame the beast before it collapsed completely. By the end, my plate looked like a crime scene—sauce spattered, crumbs everywhere, the aftermath of a beautiful disaster.

And holding it all together behind the bar was Mark—part mixologist, part therapist, part field commander. The man runs that counter like it’s a mission, calm under fire, always ready with a drink or a story.

Five stars, no hesitation. Chief’s isn’t a burger joint—it’s a baptism by flavor. Come hungry, tip Mark heavy, and accept that you’ll need a shower and an alibi...

This is an awesome, local bar, perfect for stopping by before or after the beach. It's a full bar with loads of food options; bar food at a decent price ($5 chicken taco).

Great place to watch sports ( albeit with NO AUDIO ) and have a few cold ones. The friendly male bartender was super laid back and efficient. Staff were all working hard, especially the kitchen which was literally pumping out food faster than the servers could send them out! I had amazing conversations with both the people to my right and left; friendly regulars who welcomed me in for my first time at Cheif's. I really enjoyed how normal everybody was, no yuppies, no egos, just chill people watching sports and enjoying their food and beverages.

There were a BUNCH of families with young kids on the patio, enjoying their food and fire pit seating. I really don't like being at eateries, especially bars, with loads of kids but this wasn't too bad since they were all outside and well mannered.

Parking lot fills up fast! I'll be back to see what this...

We had a great experience at Chief Burgers and Brew in Solana Beach! I ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich, perfectly crispy with just the right amount of heat. Flavor had a nice twist with pineapple. I also had the Root Beer Whiskey Barrel, which was excellent. It was a fun and flavorful twist on an old-fashioned, smooth, balanced, and really creative.

My wife had the Grilled Chicken Club and loved how fresh and flavorful it was. Our kids were just as happy and our son devoured his kids’ cheeseburger and couldn’t get enough of the fries, and our daughter loved her hot dog.

The atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming, and our server Emma was outstanding, attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was perfect from start to finish. Great food, great drinks, and great service. We’ll definitely be back before leaving...